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Cashew Nuts

Mildly sweet yet crunchy, delicious cashew nut is packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for robust health! Cashews, or "caju" in Portuguese, are a popular ingredient in sweet as well savoury dishes.

Botanically, cashew is an average size evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family of the genus: Anacardium.

Scientific name: Anacardium occidentale.
The cashew tree is native to Brazil’s Amazon rain forest, which spread all over the world by Portuguese explorers. Today, it is grown commercially in Brazil, Vietnam, and India and in many African countries.

Cashew tree bears numerous, edible, pear shaped false fruits or “accessory fruits” called "cashew apples." A small bean shaped, grey colour “true fruit” is firmly adhering to lower end of these apples appearing like a clapper in the bell. This true fruit is actually a drupe, featuring hard outer shell enclosing a single edible seed or the “cashew nut.” The outer shell contains a phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent caustic skin irritant toxin. It is, therefore, the outer shell is roasted in the processing unit in order to destroy the resin, urushiol and then, the edible nut is extracted.

Cashew nut measures about an inch in length and 1/2 inches in diameter with kidney or bean shape, and smooth curvy pointed tip. Each nut has two equal halves as in legumes. The nuts are cream white colour with firm yet delicate texture and smooth surface. Cashews have buttery texture with pleasant sweet fruity aroma.

Health benefits

Cashews are high in calories. 100 g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are packed with soluble dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers.

They are rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic and palmitoleic acids that help to lower or bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favouring healthy blood lipid profile.

Cashew nuts are very rich source of minerals. Minerals especially manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium are concentrated in the nuts. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these minerals and prevent deficiency diseases. Selenium is an important micronutrient, which functions as co-factor for antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidases, one of the most powerful antioxidant in the body. Copper is a cofactor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Zinc is a co-factor in many enzymes that regulate growth and development, sperm generation, digestion and nucleic acid synthesis.

Cashews are also rich in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential in the sense that our body requires them from external sources to replenish and essential for metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at cellular levels.

In addition, the nuts are also containing small amount of Zea-xanthin, an important flavonoid antioxidant, which selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes. It is thought to provide antioxidant and protective UV ray filtering functions and helps prevent age related macular degeneration (ARMD) in the elderly.

Monounsaturated Fats for the Heart: Cashews are a fantastic source of healthy dietary fats, that are required for our body to soak up the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and create fatty acids which are essential for the development of the brain as well as blood clotting. These types of healthy fats consist of Monounsaturated fats or MUFA as well as polyunsaturated fats or PUFA. They’re best for the heart and help to lessen bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) if ingested in suitable amounts, even just in people with diabetes. LDL cholesterol may rise because of extreme usage of saturated fats, posing a significant threat for heart diseases just like atherosclerosis or even the hardening of arteries. Research has indicated that selecting unsaturated fats over saturated fats improves levels of HDL cholesterol, decreases triglyceride levels, and beneficially reduces the blood pressure too. The inclusion of nuts like cashews, fish, and vegetable oils including olive oil and canola oil in the diet can offer these healthy unsaturated fats on the body.

Eye Health: We’ve all heard that carrots are great for your eyes, however it might come as an unexpected that cashews are far too! They include high levels of lutein as well as zeaxanthin that behave as antioxidants whenever consumed frequently. These types of compounds safeguard the eyes from light damage (which could turn into blindness within the elderly), and may help reduce the instance of cataracts.

Prevents from Cardiac Arrhythmia: Additionally it is the good source of the omega-3 fatty acids as well as omega-6 fatty acids that works as powerful antioxidants as well as helps prevent the blood vessels from free radicals as well as cardiac arrhythmia.

Weight Loss: People who consume nuts two times a week are much less inclined to put on weight compared to those who hardly ever eat nuts. Cashew nuts truly are comparatively loaded with fat, but it’s regarded as “good fat.” This is due to the ideal fat ratio within the nut, 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated, respectively, that is suggested by scientists for tip-top health. Cashew nuts consist of less fat compared to almost every other popular nuts, which includes peanuts, pecans, almonds and walnuts. They’re dense in energy and high in dietary fibre, which makes them an extremely beneficial snack for managing weight gain.

Prevents from Mental Disorders: Copper present in Cashew nut involves in production and secretion of both melanin and dopamine that helps prevent from depression, serious sun burn, long-term tiredness syndromes, neurological problems and etc.

Provide Necessary Minerals: Cashews might help sustain your body’s balance of minerals required for ideal health, since they are loaded with mineral content, with copper being the most abundant. A 1-oz. serving of roasted cashews consists of 0.6 mg of copper that is a lot more than 30 % of the suggested intake set by the Institute of Medicine. Copper is required by your body for the manufacture of haemoglobin, collagen, elastin and also the protection of nerve fibres. Other minerals in cashews consist of magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, iron, potassium, selenium and calcium. Cashews contain just a trace of sodium until you buy salted nuts.

Reduce Diabetes Risk: Cashews are very therapeutic for managing blood sugar, in accordance with a study in the December 2010 issue of “Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.” Within the study, researchers from the University of Montreal tested an extract from cashew nuts that contains anticardia acid, on lab rats. The results of their study reveal that the anacardic acid enhances the ability of sugar to enter cells that lessens the quantity of sugar circulating within the bloodstream. Cashews may also encourage the metabolism of sugar into energy, a procedure known as glycolysis. Controlling blood-sugar levels decreases the chance of developing diabetes, an ailment often related to obesity as well as heart disease.

Prevents from Old Age Eye Disorders: It features a pigment flavonoid antioxidant known as zeaxanthin that gets absorbed on the eyes (retinal macula lutea) and protects through the UV rays, therefore prevents from the age-related macular degeneration throughout old age.

Reduce Cancer Risk: Cashews consist of a number of anti-oxidant compounds which are thought to be anticancer agents. The National Cancer Institute explains that free radicals, that are damaged molecules, attack healthy cells, modifying DNA and potentially resulting in cancer. Proanthocyanidins are the antioxidant compounds present in cashews. These types of beneficial chemicals may possibly have the capability to stop the development of certain cancer cells.

Controls your blood pressure levels: These nuts are lower in sodium and high in potassium and therefore keep blood pressure level within check. When there is extra sodium, the body retains more water which in turn causes the volume of blood to improve in turn enhancing the blood pressure level. Also read how to lessen salt intake to help keep BP in check.

Assists the body in creating energy: Cashews consist of thiamine that plays an important role in transforming sugar to energy. A lack thiamine in your daily diet can result in some much more severe health problems which range from muscle pain to even the memory loss.

Prepares Body to Fight Menopausal Symptoms: Cashew nuts are thought as the sleep inducer as well as stress reliever. It will help women after their menopause stage by improving the relaxed and pleasurable sleep throughout night time thus releases stress level among women in old age.

Plays a key role in numerous body functions: As cashew nuts are full of high copper content, they play a huge role in enzyme action, hormone production and brain function. Aside from this, they also assist in the creation of red blood cells and therefore, avoid anaemia.

Given the fact that cashew nuts are loaded with calories, several questions may be going in your head at this stage of time. Our expert sheds light on some common questions you may have regarding usage of tasty cashew nuts or even kajus.

Healthy Muscles and Nerves: Cashews are a fantastic source of magnesium, that is vital for the healthy growth and development of bones, muscles, tissues, and organs of the body. Magnesium helps you to sustain healthy blood pressure, sustain the immune system, maintain nerve function, and keep the bones strong. It’s also associated with metabolic functions, influences the insulin activity as well as manages the blood sugar levels of the body. An insufficiency of magnesium alters the metabolism of calcium and also the hormones accountable for its regulation.

Promotes Overall Healthy Growth and Development: It is probably the most beneficial dry fruits for kids of growing age. It boosts the continuing development of the bones, teeth, brain, hair, skin and etc body part since they require more calcium, vitamins, minerals, proteins and calorie compared to other age group people.

Can help treat depression: Cashew nuts may even help deal with depressive disorders. It’s been stated that a couple of handfuls of cashews has got the equal effect of a prescription anti-depressant. Cashews consist of an amino acid, called L-tryptophan that is broken down within the body into niacin and serotonin, compounds which calm anxiety and encourage a feeling of well-being.

Red Blood Cells: Cashews are full of copper, which will help within the metabolism of iron, helps with the development of red blood cells helping in keeping bones and also the defence mechanisms healthy. Additionally it is vital for the nervous as well as skeletal system of the body. An insufficiency of copper within the body may lead to osteoporosis, irregular heartbeats, and anaemia.

Bone and Oral Health: Cashews provide phosphorous, that is required for the healthy growth and development of teeth and bones. Phosphorous also helps with protein synthesis, assimilation of carbohydrates as well as fats and the maintenance of cellular health.

Anaemia: Cashews are a source of dietary, iron that is essential to carry oxygen throughout the body and helps with the functioning of enzymes and also the defence mechanisms. An insufficiency of iron within the diet can result in body fatigue, anaemia, as well as an elevated inclination towards infections.

Gallstones: Gallstones usually are stone-like deposits that always contain cholesterol which accumulates within the gall bladder. The regular inclusion of healthy nuts just like cashews will help lower the chance of development of gallstones.

Prevents from Deficiency Diseases It really is packed with the main minerals known as manganese, magnesium, copper, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium and etc that really help in avoiding from numerous insufficiency diseases.

Hair and Skin Health: Cashews are full of the mineral copper. An essential component of many enzymes, copper plays its part in a broad variety of processes. One copper-containing enzyme, tyrosinase, changes tyrosine to melanin that is the pigment that provides hair and skin its colour. With no copper cashews are so rich in, these enzymes wouldn’t be able to do their jobs.

Immune System: Cashews consist of zinc, that performs an important role within the strengthening of the immune system against microbial infections, protein synthesis and also the healing of wounds. It is very important while pregnant for the development of the baby and also the developmental years of childhood to take care of a stable state of the body.

Protects from UV Rays: It has capability to avoid the body from the UV rays of the sun in addition to safeguards from the age related macular degeneration.

Relieves Constipation: Its high fibre content works well for reducing the constipation whenever taken on day after day.

Help Prevent Migraine Headaches: Cashews help support healthy brain function as well as enhance the circulation of blood whilst lowering blood pressure level. Nuts offer plant-based phytosterols that are good for decreasing headache duration as well as occurrence.

Additionally, cashews combat rapid alterations in blood sugar as well as hypoglycaemia, another well-recognized trigger for migraines.

Prevent artery disease-related: Cashew nuts great for the heart since it consists of monounsaturated oleic acid as well as palmitoleic acid. These types of essential fatty acids assist to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) whilst enhancing the good cholesterol (HDL). Scientific studies claim that Mediterranean diet that is full of monounsaturated fatty acids helps you to avoid coronary artery disease as well as stroke by supporting healthy blood lipids.

 

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11/05/2025  © Veggiefood